PFF’s Best Run Blocker Award: Vikings C Joe Berger

It is award season here at PFF, and this year we are taking the offensive line a step further than in previous years. Not only do we have the Bruce Matthews Award for best offensive lineman, but we are starting awards for best pass and run blocking linemen as well. The best run blocker award is named after former New England Patriot guard John Hannah, who was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.

Let’s take a look at the top candidates and the inaugural winner of the 2015 John Hannah Award for the best run blocker of the year.

Winner

Joe Berger, C, Minnesota Vikings

Joe Berger was largely used in a reserve role during his first few years with the Vikings before starting at right guard during the last half of the season after replacing Brandon Fusco. This preseason Berger was once again inserted into a starting spot during the preseason after a season-ending injury to center John Sullivan. Not only has Berger done a superb job replacing an elite center, but he has quietly been one of, if not the best center in the league this season. The veteran has excelled as a run blocker to earn the highest run blocking grade among centers during the last four years. Over the final half of the regular season, he earned an above-average grade of +1.0 or higher in every game, including a peak of +5.3 against a good Oakland defensive line (0.0 is average). He was also the most consistent center as he had the lowest percentage of negatively-graded run blocks at the position. The Vikings offense primarily runs man and zone blocking schemes where center play can be crucial, and Berger’s performance was an integral part of Minnesota’s rushing success this season.

First Runner-Up

Tyron Smith, LT, Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas offensive line is arguably the best run blocking group in the league, and they are led by LT Tyron Smith. In what was a career year for the 25-year-old, Smith had the second-most positive graded run blocks among tackles. In addition, he earned negative run block grades on just 7.9% of run plays, second-lowest among all players.

Second runner-up

Evan Mathis, LG, Denver Broncos

Evan Mathis came over to the Broncos after more than two months as a free agent following his release from the Eagles and entered the season having graded as the best run blocking guard three of the last four years. He started the year slow while dealing with injury, but he played significantly better after the first two weeks and was once again the top run blocking guard in the league. Mathis earned a positive run blocking grade on 24.8% of run plays, the second-highest rate among all offensive linemen.

Third runner-up

Richie Incognito, LG, Buffalo Bills

After being out of the NFL in 2014 following his suspension the previous year, Richie Incognito had a career year in his return to the field. His run blocking was particularly impressive and helped solidify their weakness at left guard since Andy Levitre left a few years ago. Incognito had the second-most positively graded run blocks among guards, and the third-highest ratio of positive run blocks to negative run blocks among all linemen.

Fourth runner-up

Marshal Yanda, RG, Baltimore Ravens

Since moving to guard in 2011, Marshal Yanda has consistently been one of the top overall players at the position in the league. While the rest of the offensive line dealt with injuries this year and their performance dipped from last season, Yanda continued his elite level of play. He had more positively graded run blocks than any other player in the league for the second consecutive year. Amazingly, his +23.8 run block grade was only the fourth-highest of his career.

Related Posts

Matt has been an analyst for PFF since 2013. He is also a contributor to 120 Sports and a former NCAA Division-III football player. Follow @PFF_Matt

Thomas Bell

Would be nice to see a bit more detail on Mathis….what his scores were, and most of all his snap count in the second half of the season. If he’s playing so well, why did we see so much of Max Garcia at Guard?

https://twitter.com/MALACHiOFCOURSE Malachi

evan’s been hurt, and Max is an ascending player who rarely leaves the field now, whether at LG for Evan or RG for Lou

Thomas Bell

That’s my point — then why did Mathis get run defender of the year instead of Garcia? The article doesn’t mention Mathis’ snap count — you’d think he started and played in every game.

https://twitter.com/MALACHiOFCOURSE Malachi

quality not quantity i guess

enai D

Probably not much of a stretch to say that Berger saved the Vikings season- the Vikings OL was straight up awful, albeit somewhat predictably given the absence of Loadholt and Sullivan for the entire season, and Berger was really the only one doing positive things from game-to-game. Without Berger actually blocking people (unlike the rest of the Vikes OL), AP probably doesn’t get the rushing title, and the Vikings probably don’t end up with 11 wins and a division title.

RDF

Berger + Diggs saved the season.

Zev

Two former Dolphins… so frustrating. We were 8th in sacks given up this year.